Tonkeris. Talgar region. Almaty oblast.

First I visited The russian olive thickets nearby Janashar. On russian olive saw only usual Blackbirds, Black-throated Thrushes and Tree Sparrows. On the roadside few times noticed Azure Tits and Grey-headed Goldfinches. A bit further near Kosmos in the elm thickets large predators were noticeable from away. Most likely, they were Upland Buzzards which are a lot on the south-east Kazakhstan in the winter.

Also I noticed two Upland and one Long-legged Buzzards nearby Tonkeris. In the same place saw also the female Hen Harrier. The white waist and a long tail were very well appreciable. The bird sat on the destroyed structures and then flied up. On the roadside much corn grains were scattered, Jackdaws, Rooks and Yellowhammers pecked these corn. On russian olives near Tonkeris there were only Blackbirds and Black-throated Thrushes. The Great Grey Shrike looked out a victim from wires about canes. At this time it became already absolutely murky and it was snowing. Birds were not visible any more.

The most interesting today's bird is Barbary Falcon. I specially searched for it in same places we it saw on January 12th. Barbary Falcon sat on the elm and didn't react to the car. I easy watched it by binocular about twenty minutes. The falcon again sat a back, twisted a head, but did not turn. I wished to make front photos but when I left the car and tried to come close, Falcon departed. Disquiet large falcons depart at once far. To search it to non professional watcher like me is useless.

1. Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula intermedius)

2. Upland Buzzard (Buteo hemilasius)

3. Eurasian Jackdaws (Corvus monedula)

4. Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus)

5. Barbary Falcon (Falco pelegrinoides babilonicus)

6. Barbary Falcon (Falco pelegrinoides babilonicus)